Some Sleep Apnea Health Risks And Treatments

Some Sleep Apnea Health Risks And Treatments

Many people get insufficient or low-quality sleep, but many don't realize that the root of the problem might be an identifiable sleep disorder. Sleep apnea is common, and it's caused by airway obstruction at night. This article can help you find out whether you suffer from this problem. Drop some of your vices to fight against sleep apnea. In particular, alcohol and cigarettes are bad for you. Drinking depresses the respiratory system and can cause severe breathing issues. Cigarette smoke is full of cancer-causing chemicals which are bad for your lungs. Getting rid of these bad habits can help to lessen the frustration that sleep apnea brings. Try getting fitted for a custom-made mouth guard. These guards are designed for patients with sleep apnea. It is a more comfortable alternative to using a CPAP machine. It keeps your air passageways wide open and clear by stabilizing your throat and holding it in the proper position. Your doctor or a sleep specialist can help you find the CPAP machine that is best suited for your needs and comfort. The noise level of a CPAP machine and its overall size are both points to take into consideration. Some machines are very quiet and no bigger than a simple bread box. Your doctor should be able to point you in the right direction of a capable machine. Moderate your alcohol intake. Alcohol naturally relaxes your muscles. That may be something people like when they drink, but it also can cause sleep apnea. If you must drink, keep it to just a few, and stop drinking well before bedtime. This will keep your throat muscles from relaxing excessively. If you're not going to give up alcohol, then just don't do it right before bedtime. If you are dealing with sleep apnea and you're a smoker and drinker, you should quit now to help improve the symptoms of this condition. Both of these bad habits can cause the airway muscles to relax, which makes you snore and adds to the symptoms of sleep apnea. Remember that surgery and medications are expensive. Correcting bad habits is free.

Sleep Apnea

Many people find that using a mouth guard while sleeping helps their sleep apnea. These are made especially for those suffering from sleep apnea. This can be an alternative to a CPAP machine, and can be more comfortable, to boot. A mouth guard will work by positioning the jaw and tongue in a helpful way that will allow for easier breathing while asleep. Children are susceptible to sleep apnea. Signs of sleep apnea in kids includes hyperactivity, hostility and breathing through their mouth. These symptoms are quite similar to ADHD, so it's important to get an accurate diagnosis because treatments for these two disorders are quite different. If your doctor has prescribed a CPAP machine, try to wear it for about 4 hours every night. Using a CPAP while sleeping is a tough adjustment for many patients to make. For this CPAP therapy to work successfully, you will need four hours each day to use it. If you have a tough time with it, be sure you have the right size mask, and that the pressure is working right. Don't take sleeping pills if you can avoid it. Sleeping pills are similar to alcohol in that they cause the muscles in your throat to be less tense. They may also have other negative effects as well. Consult with your practitioner to see what you can do to get to sleep without putting your breathing patterns at risk. Avoid drinking alcohol very often. Alcohol causes your muscles to relax. Although some people do enjoy this, it can contribute to sleep apnea. Alcohol has an effect on throat muscles and it can hurt your body. If you feel you must drink, try not to do it as often or before you go to sleep. When you have sleep apnea you can find out about it from tests your doctor will run. There are hundreds of studies that show sleep apnea has effected many families together, and this might be something that you cannot escape. Do your best to sleep off your back and on your side. A lot of people that suffer from sleep apnea lay down in bed at night on their backs. When you sleep, your throat muscles relax, and back sleeping causes gravity to pull the relaxed muscles downward, restricting airflow. Instead, you should sleep on your side and that can help your breathe much better. Use pillows to force yourself to sleep sideways if you have a problem with rolling over once you are asleep. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, avoid sleeping pills. These pills can cause your throat muscles to relax and keep your airways from properly functioning. These pills can become very dangerous if you have a bad case of sleep apnea; even though you might be tempted to use them to stay asleep, this is definitely not a good solution. Your physician may want you to write in a log or journal about your sleep, in order to check to see if you have sleep apnea. Sleep logs are records where patients write down the length and quality of their sleep. Your partner can help with that, as they know whether you are a loud snorer or jerk about. This helps the doctor discern whether you have sleep apnea or not.

Sleep Apnea

Try to keep a sleep schedule if sleep apnea is an issue in your life. Your regular sleeping patterns already suffer due to your condition. Getting treatment from a doctor is just one part of the solution. Making sure that you don't disrupt your sleep on your own with a lax sleeping schedule is another part of the solution. Start with going to bed at a set time each night and waking up at a set time daily. Your physician may suggest that you start recording your sleeping habits in order to zero in on your sleep apnea symptoms. Keep track of how long you are able to sleep at night, as well as anything else related to your sleeping process. If your sleeping partner is telling you that you snore or jerk in your sleep, you may have sleep apnea. This type of data can help your doctor diagnose the issue. If you suffer from sleep apnea and have a problem with your mouth opening while sleeping with your CPAP, a chin strap may be able to help. This little piece of fabric can work wonders to hold your chin that your breathing is not interrupted. Use this device to solve this annoying problem, as leaving it unfixed will make your CPAP therapy ineffective. If you have sleep apnea, consider dropping some weight. Weight loss alone can be an effective treatment for those with mild sleep apnea. Even losing a little weight can improve sleep apnea by opening the throat and airway, because there is less pressure on the neck. If you're not finding that anything is helping with your sleep apnea condition, talking to a doctor about various treatment options is recommended. A small percentage of patients don't react to the common treatments, and as a result, surgery may be their only option, which includes enlarging the airway or removing the tonsils. Only sleep with a single pillow of standard size. Larger or stacked pillows can put your airways in an awkward position and limit your breathing. This makes you sleep in a way that makes it hard to breathe. Use a single pillow for maximum relief from your sleep apnea. Always discuss your sleep apnea problem with your doctor, but also try some self-help treatments. Quitting smoking and losing weight are great for anyone, but are even better for sleep apnea patients. You should stay away from alcohol, anything caffeinated and even heavier meals within the hours leading up to bed time.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea will not go away by itself; you need to treat it. Some treatments may work for certain people, but not all of them. Treatment options vary depending on the cause. One person will find relief by stopping the habit of smoking and drinking. Another person may find that losing weight is their solution. There are many options available to help treat this condition, one of which is a CPAP machine. Even the simplest surgery carries some risk, so it is best to consider surgery as a last option. Whichever route you choose, getting proper treatment can improve your sleep and your life. You should always consult a physician when you have sleep apnea, but there are things you can do for yourself too. Stopping smoking and shedding weight is a great start, especially for anyone dealing with sleep apnea. Overeating, consuming an excessive amount of alcohol and too much caffeine before bed can all exacerbate sleep apnea. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, give up sleeping facing up. If you sleep on your back, you are sleeping in a position that can block your airways. Try side-sleeping, but if you can't do it naturally, try propping a pillow to force your body onto a side every night. Many people who have sleep apnea make the mistake of sleeping on their backs. You would be better served by laying on your side during sleep. Something with an odd shape sewn into your sleeping attire can prevent you from returning to the back position whilst sleeping. This will make back sleeping very uncomfortable. If you believe that you're suffering from sleep apnea, it would be wise to talk to ask your doctor to give you a sleep test. This can determine the cause of your sleep problems, and if it is sleep apnea, you will learn how severely you suffer with the condition. After this you'll need to look at treatment options, even for a mild form of sleep apnea. If you're certain you have sleep apnea, you must find ways to deal with it. It is important to get enough sleep on a regular basis. Improve the quality of your life by applying these tips and improving the quality of your sleep. Sleep apnea is an issue with throat muscles, which means strengthening them will help ease symptoms. If you want to know how to make your throat stronger, you can do a lot of exercises for that.